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Tupp blinks a few times and finally lets out a belated, "Woah..." Having finally processed what just happened, the young paladin gives Zithembe a congratulatory pat on the hip and heads over to Hepsubia, "That was something else! You're a natural ghost whisperer, Hep... You and Zith make a great team, I mean, I bet you two could talk any spirit to a peaceful rest!" Buoyed by this happy turn of events, Tupp turns to J, enthusiastic to hear what she wants to do next, Maybe we can help even more spirits?
"I think...I think I'm good," J responds, looking around at everyone and then at Grishan. Her voice sounds strong again, hopeful. "There's nothing else here for me, nothing else that needs to be done. And I feel...I feel good," she smiles. "And Tupp's right, you're all an inspiration...especially you, Hepsubia, and you, Wise Teacher. I think...I think I'd like to do what you do. I'd like to help other spirits to move on."
She shivers a little and then looks around. "But let's get back outside. The spirits and ghosts may be gone but it's still as damp as any cellar down here! We can warm up in the sun and then head to the Arboretum Arcanis and see if we can find those notes Grishan wanted."
Making your way back out of the necropolis under the school and through the rubble-strewn hallways, you find yourselves in agreement with J - the air in this place seems peaceful now, less heavy. What lingering spirits there might have been must have left the school when Cassiel did. Still, it's not without some sense of relief that you exit the Tri-Towers Yard and back into the sun, which inexplicably seems to be shining even though it had been drizzly and wet not long ago.
Once outside, Grishan swirls around in front the group and gestures for everyone to follow him. "The Arboretum isn't too far from here so just follow me, okay? I'd never forget the way."
"Me neither," J chuckles, though she playfully gestures for Grishan to lead with a sweeping bow.
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The Arboretum Arcanis stands at the center of the Precipice Quarter, once a haven for exotic trees, bushes, and flowers from across Golarion. The structure is covered with a crystal dome that gives it the appearance of a greenhouse, only now it's cracked and its apex is missing the large central piece. Vines have grown through the cracks in the dome, now so thick that light barely penetrates through.
Grishan stops, brows furrowed in thought. "Okay...I'm sure the packet is inside here. If I remember right, I think I hid it in a red lion statue that was part of a fountain. But...I can't remember just where the fountain was."
"Well, we've still got until tomorrow night so that gives us plenty of time to look around," J remarks with a shrug.
Inside, the foyer of the Arboretum Arcanis is in shambles. Debris and dead or dying plant matter cover the mosaic-tiled floor. A gnarled black thorn tree still clings to life in a giant masonry planter. Two massive skylights in the ceiling afford a view of low-hanging, purple and black clouds above; the crystal dome is completely obscured. Piles of rubble obscure most of what once may have been doorways, but a door to the west is conveniently free from debris.
As the group files into the foyer Hepsubia does what she does best and slips into the shadows - not a terribly difficult feat with the vines blotting out the light from the cracked dome. While there were, at first, no signs of life this quickly changes as the group stands about getting their bearings. A creature that seems to be some sort of short, gnarled, gnome-like figure with a beard of green mold, an oversized, misshapen and bulbous head, and long, branched fingers suddenly detaches itself from the tree. On its back are numerous small sack-like growths about the size of a child’s fist.
The creature regards you for a moment and then makes a low bow to you. "Hello to you, tall ones. What brings you to this forgotten place?" he asks, his voice surprisingly high-pitched and shrill given his appearance.
This creature is a sentient plant known as a mandragora.
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Tupp makes a small respectful bow of his own, and nods along to Zithembe, "Yeah, we thought this place was abandoned..." He glances around the crumbling room, then looks back to the strange gnome-like creature with a beard of mold and smiles. "No offence, but it really does look abandoned. Oh, I'm Tupp, by the way, it's a pleasure to meet you mister?" His voice raises in pitch, as if inquiring after the creature's name, then continues in his cheerful, friendly manner. "I really like your beard! I tried growing one myself once, but it just came out all patchy."
"Um...I'm seeing a little talking plant so if that's what you're seeing then you're good...or I'm good. Or we're both crazy and that's not good at all," J whispers back to Ylva.
The little creature glances at the two women and then chuckles a little. "Not familiar with my kind, then? It's fine, most wouldn't be unless they were attuned to nature or studied botany," he remarks. "To answer your question, I'm Majordomo Pip and I once served the head of this place as a gardening assistant. But alas, ever since that earthquake all those years ago I've been largely left to my own devices here - this is my home, you see, and I couldn't bear to leave it even after the tall ones stopped coming."
"But! As you can see, some life still remains here and I continue to take care of it - along with the new Master Gardener of this place," Pip continues, quite cheerily. "If you wish to visit our garden then you're welcome to do so - but there is a small fee involved."
Mandragoras have a chaotic evil alignment and no special defenses.
No immunities beyond those granted by Plant Traits. Resist Acid & Cold 5, Electricity 10. Vulnerable to supernatural darkness (such as Deeper Darkness but not Darkness; slowed as per the Slow spell.
You know that mandragoras can utter an ear-piercing shriek that renders those who hear it quite ill. Their touch is also poisonous.
Shriek (Su) - Once per day as a standard action, a mandragora can give voice to an unsettling shriek. All creatures within a 30-foot spread of a shrieking mandragora must make a DC 13 Will save or become nauseated for 1d4 rounds. This is a sonic, mind-affecting ability.
Poison (Ex) - Slam—injury; save Fort DC 13; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect confusion (as per the spell confusion) and fatigue; cure no saves but “act normally” result on the confusion behavior table ends the effect.
"Not many," Pip admits. "That's part of why charging a fee is so necessary - but don't worry, I don't ask for gold or trinkets as you might expect. All I ask from each of you is a small portion of your blood, for my ongoing research. Surely that isn't too much to ask? Your bodies will quickly replenish the small amount that I would extract - it shouldn't even leave you weak!"
"She came here only a short while ago and has taken up residence in the 'Plants of Eastern Garund' greenhouse," Pip continues to explain. "While she's tall and walks on two legs as you do, she's something...more. Thick, fibrous skin and a face of flower petals, the Master Gardener is a wonder to behold!"
The description sounds like that of a ghoran, creatures that rose from plant life created by advanced druidic magic to be an especially hardy and adaptive food source for humans. You know that over the centuries, ghorans evolved sentience and ambulatory bodies that mimicked the appearance of humanoids as a method to discourage their enemies from hunting them and improve their chances of survival. Since their creators did not imbue them with the ability to create more of the ghorus seeds that give them life, ghorans are fanatically protective of these seeds and consider destroying them the worst of crimes.
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could it be a ghoran? how interesting... of course, I won't have much magic that will be helpful against those either, do I...
"Umm, about this toll," Sylvak inquires as he watches Zithembe with great interest, "do we extract the blood ourselves, or do you want to take it? And, where would it go? Are we just talking about a few drops in a bowl or on the soil, or are you going to, uh, drink it or something?"
You know that ghorans have no particular immunities beyond the ones granted to their by their plant-like nature and that they don't have any resistances, either. On the other hand, they are heavily dependent on natural light and they're also amazingly delicious.
"Oh, don't worry - I'll take it myself," Pip smiles, apparently pleased that at least one of you seems willing to share with him. "If you like, I'll show you...?"
He turns to Zithembe with a questioning look. Assuming that he's given the okay, he approaches the shabti and says, "Now, roll up your sleeve and hold out your arm, please." Pip then transforms one of his fingers into a thin, translucent, syringe-like tube with a needle-sharp tip which he inserts into the crook of Zithembe's arm. A small amount of blood, perhaps enough to fill a small tube, blood flows through the needle and via a long, translucent vein to one of the nodules on Pip's back. The extraction complete, Pip withdraws his needle-finger. "There, that wasn't so bad, was it? Now be sure to hold some pressure on that to prevent further bleeding and bruising. In fact, I recommend bending your arm up and holding it like that for a minute or two!"
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Tupp narrows his eyes, not at all comfortable with giving a strange creature his blood, especially after Zithembe's warning. "Umm... What are you going to do with all that blood?" He asks, studying the process warily, ready to intercede if it starts to take too much or Zithembe looks uncomfortable. "I've heard stories of black magic that uses blood... You're not going to do anything like that are you?" He is, however, eager to look around and especially wants to meet the new Master Gardener, and will reluctantly go with the majority on the matter.
"No no no, nothing like that," Pip reassures you, though he does sigh a bit. "No offense intended but you tall folk often seem to jump to the worst conclusions. I like to consider myself a master botanist, and I dabble a bit in alchemy as well," he explains. "I take particular interest in combining my two interests, creating magical substances by enhancing various flora. Having a variety of blood samples allows me to experiment with new things."
It's still an odd thing to do with blood but Pip seems to be telling the truth.
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"Or we both see a plant that talks and it is very bad," Ylva whispers when it mentions the toll of blood.
She steps forward and rolls up her sleeve.
"There are many tales of those taking blood or using it for fell deeds and none at all of those that take it to help those in need. I pray you prove me wrong in that. If blood is the toll then I shall pay for both of us," she says, gesturing to herself and J. "How often is it that you have the fey-blooded come calling on you?"
J blinks and looks over at Ylva, shaking her head. "Thank you Ylva but that's okay. I'm a big girl and if you and Wise Teacher are willing to pay Mister Pip's toll...then so am I. Paying your own way is part of being an adult, right?"
She too steps forward and rolls up her sleeve, though she does shiver slightly at the sight of Pip's needle-fingers and looks away. "Just...I don't think I'll watch, if that's okay..."
For his part, Pip seems delighted that more of you are willing to pay his strange toll. "Wonderful, wonderful! You're right miss, fey-blood is a rare treat indeed but so is having such a wide array of samples," he chatters as he proceeds with drawing blood from both Ylva and J.
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Hepsubia steps back from the blood sucking plant, suspicious
I don't like this. I'll tell you flatly: I don't trust you. I don't know why exactly, but there's something foul. Besides, I'm not very good at paying taxes, tolls, responsabilities and stuff like that. You will have enough blood with my comrades. This is my blood, and I like it where it is, inside my body.
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I’m not sure this is a good idea... paying the toll may get us through the door without a fight but if things go poorly with the master gardener we’re probably going to end up having to fight this thing anyways, and who knows what advantage he will have gained by possessing our blood... well, I suppose it’s a bit late for all that now...
Sylvak sighs and steps forward to offer his arm in turn.
"Okay, then you may wait here until we return," Pip remarks to Hepsubia, after a pause. "No one gets in to see the Master Gardener unless they pay the toll. That's how this works," he continues, sounding a little huffy as he continues his task, drawing blood from Kiango and Sylvak in turn. "And no, right now it's just the Master Gardener and myself. But oh, I've made such great strides in my experiments since she arrived!"
You sense that Pip is actually being honest about what he plans to use the blood for but that he's also got an ulterior motive for sending the group to see the Master Gardener.
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"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to jump to any conclusions..." Tupp says apologetically as he rolls up a sleeve and waits for his turn, "It's just that you can never be too careful, you know? Especially in creepy abandoned buildings with purple clouds on the roof. Here, I'm ready to pay." He offers his arm and screws up his face in anticipation of the prick to come. "Can we see these experiments some time? I mean, it would be nice to see what you do here."
"Oh yes, we'll pass right by them on the way to the Master Gardener," Pip nods enthusiastically. "I'd be happy to explain what they do!"
Finishing up with Tupp and then a reluctant Theodric, Pip looks around, seemingly satisfied...at least mostly. "That's all of you except for you, because you don't have any substance or blood to extract," he nods at Grishan, "...and you," he finishes, glancing at Hepsubia. "As I said, only those who pay the toll may proceed beyond this point. You're free to wait here until your friends return, if you like."
As Pip and the rest of you wait to see what Hepsubia decides to do, J shakes her head at Ylva. "Maybe not, but I wanted to," she whispers back. "The whole thing still gives me the creeps but I couldn't let the rest of you sacrifice on my behalf - not after what happened back in the Tri-Towers Yard. It all worked out but what if Cassiel hadn't been convinced to leave this realm for good? She might've killed any or all of us and it would've been my fault for bringing you there with me. Donating a little blood? It's the least I can do!"
"Hah! I like you, green-blooded one," Pip giggles. "No, I promise they won't eat you! But you could eat them, if you fancied a nibble!"
With everyone but Hepsubia having agreed to Pip's toll, the little plant claps his hands together delightedly. "Okay! The rest of you can follow me and I'll give you a quick tour on our way to the Master Gardener's chambers." He then glances over his shoulder at Hepsubia. "Please wait here until we return; it shouldn't take very long."
Barring any further objections, Pip turns and beckons the rest of the group through the door to the west. As the room appears to be quite dark, some of you pause for a moment to bring your magical light sources to be bear before proceeding; Pip waits patiently as you do. "Sorry, I forget that most tall folks can't see in the dark. It's all the vines you see, they blot out any light that would filter through the holes in the ceiling."
Decaying vines carpet the walls and ceiling of this room. The floor is riddled with narrow cracks and fissures, extending several feet below. While you figure that the vines here were once beautiful and covered with fragrant flowers, all that remains now is an earthen smell of decay. "Nothing to see here," Pip remarks, motioning for you to continue following him through a door to the north.
A collapsed sign near the door lists the exhibit that was on display in this gallery at the time of the earthquake: "Flowering Shrubs of Eastern Taldor”. Plants once grew in the large, ceramic planters that still hug the southern wall. Dozens of branches clinging to decaying leaves emerge from the wooden door to the north. To the east, a room with healthy trees and shrubs is visible through a glass door set in a wrought iron frame. "Ahh, see? It's not all decay, thank goodness! Right through here please," Pip remarks excitedly as he leads you through the eastern door.
Dozens of healthy plants with vibrant and colorful leaves, fruit, and flowers emerge from the decay in this small greenhouse, spilling out of the pots and berths that once contained them.
"Isn't it beautiful? Isn't it wondrous??? Oh, such things we've accomplished here in this little greenhouse," Pip gushes.
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"Yes," Sylvak agrees, "maybe we could help pull down some of those old vines and get some more sunlight into those other rooms. You'd have much more luck getting things to grow then, and it would probably be better for you too- your kind don't thrive in darkness, if I remember correctly."
As he speaks, the half-elf bends down to examine the plants. "Were you serious about taking a nibble?" he asks, "What do they taste like?"
"Oh of course, that would be most grand," Pip agrees cheerfully to the offer of some increased sunlight. "And I can tell you plenty about these plants, but...I see that maybe some of you would like to try your hand first?" he asks, noticing Sylvak's curiosity.
Of the numerous plants that grow in this small greenhouse, a few specimens in particular stand out: a couple of walnuts from a small, but hardy-looking walnut tree, a vibrant length of ivy, a couple of bright red cherries and two fine-looking watermelons.
As you study the ivy you realize that if chewed, it will function as a Potion of Spider Climb.
These two walnuts provide the same effects as Potions of Shield of Faith.
These two cherries provide the same effects as Potions of Reduce Person.
The first person to take a bite of each of these watermelons will be affected as if by Potions of Enlarge Person.
"Yes, the studious one has it right! Alchemy, plenty and plenty of experimentation, and a little of the magic left inside this place's cracked dome," Pip explains, looking as pleased as a mandragora can look. "Since you've all been such pleasant and cooperative visitors, feel free to take any of these samples for your own personal use if you like. And then, once you're finished look about, it'll be on to meet the Master Gardener!"
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Tupp's eyes go wide at the sights and revelations of this wondrous green house, and that was before Pip offered to let the group take samples. "You're sure?" He asks as he finishes poking at a particularly ripe looking cherry, "These are soo amazing! Just imagine what it would be like to eat a fruit salad made from all these!" Latching onto the Zithembe's and Sylvak's earlier offer, Tupp makes a mental note to come back sometime with some shears.